Mauritania's former director-general of the state-owned electricity company, Somlec, Sidi Salem Mohamed Abd, has disputed the findings of an investigation into fires at two power transmission plants in Nouakchott. In a statement dated October 10, 2026, Abd claimed that the investigation's conclusions regarding his tenure contained contradictions and required clarification on the project's preparation, contract award, and implementation. Abd did not shirk responsibility but demanded that those responsible for receiving the new cable and verifying its conformity with contracted specifications be identified.
Abd stated that the investigation's report mentioned five issues attributed to him, including failure to conduct prior technical studies, weak oversight before engaging a consultant engineer, and unsubstantiated decisions. He also disputed the claim that he did not adequately object to changing the cable manufacturer. Abd noted that he had requested a contract amendment for the change, which required approval from the tender committee and signature by the energy minister and Somlec's director-general.
According to Abd, he found an emergency plan for 100 days prepared by the energy ministry with Somlec's departments when he took office on August 14, 2024. The plan was based on prior studies by the ARTELIA office. Abd said that the ministry proceeded with preparing the tender file based on those studies and that he had requested early recruitment of an engineer to monitor and follow up on the work. However, this step was delayed several months due to difficulties in increasing plan financing.
Abd defended the procedures for awarding the contract to CTM Bat, stating that they respected the public procurement code. He listed the stages of the contract award: publication of the tender file on October 11, 2024, opening of bids on December 6, 2024, final award on January 27, 2025, and notification of the company on February 18, 2025. Abd emphasized that the investigation report did not record any observations on the contract award process.
Regarding a testing mission to the factory, Abd stated that managing such missions fell within the duties of the deputy director-general. He disputed the lack of details on the mission, including members, objectives, date, and location. Abd also questioned the report's assertion that the installed, tested, and operated cable differed from the contracted cable in terms of manufacturing source and section.
Abd demanded that those who received the cable at the factory and on-site, as well as the criteria used to verify its conformity, be identified. He called for an examination of potential conflicts of interest in the contract award and implementation process. Abd emphasized that he was not evading responsibility but sought clarification on the circumstances surrounding the project's preparation and execution.
The investigation's findings have sparked controversy, with Abd's statement highlighting significant discrepancies and unclear responsibilities. The issue has raised concerns about the management of Mauritania's electricity infrastructure and potential implications for the country's energy security. Key stakeholders are expected to scrutinize the investigation's report and Abd's counterclaims to determine the facts and accountability.
Key points
- Former Somlec director-general disputes investigation findings into power plant fires
- Investigation report contains contradictions, Abd claims
- Abd demands identification of those responsible for cable receipt and conformity verification
